Utica Schools outsources custodial, grounds work

The Utica Community Schools Board of Education, as expected, signed off a plan Monday to outsource custodial, grounds and warehouse services, leaving the employment future of more than 100 workers in limbo.

By a unanimous vote, school officials adopted a recommendation from Superintendent Christine Johns to award a contract GCA Services Group to provide service to the district’s 25 elementary schools, five junior high schools and all of its grounds and warehouse functions. GCA already performs the services for UCS’ four high schools, Malow Junior High School, the Instructional Resource Center and administrative facilities.

According to district officials, GCA was one of five entities that bid for the services and was the low bidder.

The new, three-year deal goes into effect July 1. Administration officials contend the pact will save the district some $2.2 million annually, which will help chip away at a projected deficit of $10.6 million for the 2012-2013 school year.

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But the decision also means 109 employees will lose their jobs at end of the school year.

In a news release, district officials promised to “ensure existing employees are aware of options available to them through the transition and will assist individuals with strong work records to interview for positions.”

But Bill Turner, president of AFSCME Local 1664, the union for the workers, said he’s heard nothing specific from the district.

“I haven’t been told anything, Turner said.

In some cases of privatization, new companies that take over service have hired displaced workers to ease the job loss. But, Turner said, that probably means at a substantially lower pay rate.

“The problem is, they’re going to pay $8 or $9 per hour,” he said.

Turner said custodians already took large pay cuts – about 25 percent – and benefit reductions two years ago when the district began to outsource the work.

Several Macomb Daily Facebook readers were dismayed by the board’s decision to outsource the work.

“It will put some long-term employees into the unemployed status,” wrote reader Mary Adragna. “I think there should be some protection against this. Did anyone say when they were hired, ‘Hey, if the economy crashes, you may be replaced by outsourcing?’”

Added Stacey Duquet Schuel: “What does outsourcing mean? Fire employees, take bids, cheapest company gets to bring their own employees in to work amongst your kids. Sounds like a bad idea to me.”

In other action, the board approved a three year-agreement with food service workers. According to district officials, the agreement provides for significant changes in benefits, including implementation of the state-mandated health care cap, increase in eligibility for health care to 30 hours per week, employee-only insurance for new employees and a change from Blue Cross Blue Shield to an HMO provided by HAP. Employees will receive a 0.5 percent pay increase each year of the agreement.